UPA ministers under ED lens over Airbus aircraft deal

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is expected to summon ministers from the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in connection with an alleged scam involving a purchase contract of Airbus aircraft for Air India, News 18 has reported.

Names of the ministers to be summoned by ED have not been disclosed yet. The ministers are under ED’s lens over the purchase of 43 aircraft by Air India from aerospace giant Airbus. During the investigation, ED found out that Airbus did not deliver on some of its contract obligations.

According to the report, while the 43 aircraft were delivered to Air India, Airbus did not open the Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) and training centre as mandated by the contract, and got an undue benefit of $175 million.

Speaking to News18, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy said that he had written a letter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) claiming that IndiGo had purchased the Airbus aircraft at a price 25 percent lower than what Air India paid. Read More